Silene perlmanii, a member of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), is a short-lived perennial plant with stems that are woody at the base. It usually is much branched from the base and often forms clumps. Stems are 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20 in) long, and leaves are in the shape of narrow ellipses 5 to 10.5 cm (2 to 4 in) long and 7 to 16 mm (0.3 to 0.6 in) wide. A few flowers are arranged in clusters at the ends of the stems. Each flower has fused sepals 22 to 30 mm (0.9 to 1.2 in) long with five lobes and white, deeply notched petals 8 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) long. Mature capsules have not been observed. It is the only species of the genus on Oahu and can be distinguished from other Silene species by its white petals and a calyx that is more than 19 mm (0.7 in) long and densely covered with short hairs